Violence in Video Games Violence in video games is a long-standing controversy. Video games haven't been around that long, "first introduced in the 1970s" (Cesarone, February 1995), and began as being focused on children. Well, everyone who grew up with games is now older and more mature and demanding more from their gaming experience, and so the creation of new types and styles of games has evolved to suit them. I grew up with games and I'm at the age where "kids' games" no longer suit me. Games that I found enjoyable as a child are now very boring. I need a more complex game with many variables to consider, and I'm mature enough to handle violence, and what's more complex than a war game? This is where the controversy comes in. Games that are now designed for the older generation (those 17 and over) are also being played by the younger generation (those under 17), which does not is not the industry's intention. These games tend to be more violent and more mature, as they are aimed at a more mature audience who can handle the violence without taking it seriously. While entertaining the older generation, people view them as desensitizing the younger generation and harming them emotionally, and therefore want to get rid of them altogether. Violent video games should not be eliminated, and I'll tell you why. First I'll give you the reasons why video games shouldn't be violent and controversial. Next, the safety issues that are in place to prevent children from playing these games. And finally why we shouldn't get rid of it, followed by a concluding paragraph. Violent video games can lead to...... middle of paper ...... people who actually play these games go out and do what they did in a game. Few. I know I haven't done anything in real life that I've done in a game or seen in a movie. Most are smart enough to know that what's on the screen isn't real, and if they can't realize that, they shouldn't be able to play it. They shouldn't play it anyway, because it's meant for older people. If these games were abolished, I know many adults who would be very bored, or even unemployed, since more than half of their consumers are no longer satisfied. Sources cited Bopp, S (1999) Looking at Video Game Violence, TOPICS Magazine number 12, p. 2Cesarone, B (January/February 1995) VIDEO GAMES AND CHILDREN. Emergency Librarian Vol.22 Issue 3, p. 31Pavlacka, A (2002) Debating violence in video games. Chicago Suburban Journal 01/08/02, section 4 c